Bio-inspired liquid crystal gel with adjustable viscoelasticity to modulate cell behaviors and fate

Liu, Kun; Tang, Shengyue; Zhu, Ling; Wen, Wei; Liu, Mingxian; Liang, Hong; Zhou, Changren; Luo, Binghong

doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2022.109704

Cited by 13 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Generally, the surface of the LC hydrogel performed well in promoting cell adhesion and spreading. In view of the structural characteristics of the cholesteric liquid crystal state, the CHW7.5CS0.8-I LC hydrogel may contact guide cell adhesion and migration based on two unique physical features of liquid crystals: the height difference between the Bouligand arch-ordered spiral CHW layers , and the orientations of the individual CHW; , however, the specific mechanism needs to be further studied. Meanwhile, the results also prove that the viscoelastic dual-cross-linked LC hydrogel with a higher modulus and stress relaxation behavior was more effective in promoting cell adhesion and spreading.…”

Section: Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to our previous work and the literature, the potential osteoinductive mechanisms of the dual-cross-linked LC composite hydrogel were related to its LC properties and viscoelasticity, as shown in Figure 7. 23,24,46 Indeed, the exact molecular mechanism by which CHW liquid crystals promote osteogenesis is still unclear. However, in view of the structural characteristics of the cholesteric liquid crystal state, it can be speculated that the osteoinductive mechanism of the LC composite hydrogel may be related to the following two factors.…”

Section: Acs Appliedmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…55 On the other hand, LC composite hydrogels have anisotropic mechanical characteristics. Based on its mechanical properties, it can guide cell behaviors and promote osteogenic differentiation through mechanical conduction 46 (Figure 7a). However, the above two mechanisms may both contribute, which needs to be further explored and systematically studied.…”

Section: Acs Appliedmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dual-Cross-linked Liquid Crystal Hydrogels with Controllable Viscoelasticity for Regulating Cell Behaviors

Tang

Liu

Chen

et al. 2022

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

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The liquid crystal properties and viscoelasticity of the natural bone extracellular matrix (ECM) play a decisive role in guiding cell behavior, conducting cell signals, and regulating mineralization. Here, we develop a facile approach for preparing a novel polysaccharide hydrogel with liquid crystal properties and viscoelasticity similar to those of natural bone ECM. First, a series of chitin whisker/chitosan (CHW/CS) hydrogels were prepared by chemical cross-linking with genipin, in which CHW can self-assemble to form cholesteric liquid crystals under ultrasonic treatment and CS chains can enter into the gaps between the helical layers of the CHW cholesteric liquid crystal phase to endow morphological stability and good mechanical properties. Subsequently, the obtained chemically cross-linked liquid crystal hydrogels were immersed into the desired concentration of the NaCl solution to form physical cross-linking. Due to the Hofmeister effect, the as-prepared dual-cross-linked liquid crystal hydrogels showed an enhanced modulus, viscoelasticity similar to that of natural ECM with relatively fast stress relaxation behavior, and fold surface morphology. Compared to both CHW/CS hydrogels without liquid crystal properties and CHW/CS liquid crystal hydrogels without further physical cross-linking, the dual-cross-linked CHW/CS liquid crystal hydrogels are more favorable for the adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. This approach could inspire the design of hydrogels mimicking the liquid crystal properties and viscoelasticity of natural bone ECM for bone repair.

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Section: Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Acs Appliedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Acs Appliedmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Dual-Cross-linked Liquid Crystal Hydrogels with Controllable Viscoelasticity for Regulating Cell Behaviors

Tang

Liu

Chen

et al. 2022

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

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“…In fact, collagen molecule, the main component of bone ECM, can assemble to form a chiral nematic liquid crystal state with twisted helical structure due to its inherent chirality (Figure a). , Collagen fibers with the liquid crystal state constitute the framework of bone ECM and determine the mechanical properties of ECM. Moreover, the anisotropic surface of liquid crystal collagen guides the migration, proliferation, and differentiation of relevant cells, and further regulates the deposition, nucleation, and growth of calcium phosphates, so as to finally form a multilevel nanostructure with staggered layers of natural mineralized bone, which endow bone tissue with biological functions. ,, …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, as a kind of lyotropic liquid crystal, whisker liquid crystal does not have morphological stability, which makes it far from being employed as bone repair material. Hence, we designed a polysaccharide liquid crystal hydrogel by cross-linking HCHW liquid crystal using genipin . Not only does the as-prepared liquid crystal hydrogel perfectly integrate liquid crystal state and viscoelasticity, but also its loss modulus is about 10% of the corresponding storage modulus, which is similar to that of bone ECM.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bone ECM-like 3D Printing Scaffold with Liquid Crystalline and Viscoelastic Microenvironment for Bone Regeneration

Liu

Chen

et al. 2022

ACS Nano

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Implanting a 3D printing scaffold is an effective therapeutic strategy for personalized bone repair. As the key factor for the success of bone tissue engineering, the scaffold should provide an appropriate bone regeneration microenvironment and excellent mechanical properties. In fact, the most ideal osteogenic microenvironment is undoubtedly provided by natural bone extracellular matrix (ECM), which exhibits liquid crystalline and viscoelastic characteristics. However, mimicking a bone ECM-like microenvironment in a 3D structure with outstanding mechanical properties is a huge challenge. Herein, we develop a facile approach to fabricate a bionic scaffold perfectly combining bone ECM-like microenvironment and robust mechanical properties. Creatively, 3D printing a poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) scaffold was effectively strengthened via layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly of chitin whiskers. More importantly, a kind of chitin whisker/chitosan composite hydrogel with bone ECM-like liquid crystalline state and viscoelasticity was infused into the robust PLLA scaffold to build the bone ECM-like microenvironment in 3D structure, thus highly promoting bone regeneration. Moreover, deferoxamine, an angiogenic factor, was encapsulated in the composite hydrogel and sustainably released, playing a long-term role in angiogenesis and thereby further promoting osteogenesis. This scaffold with bone ECMlike microenvironment and excellent mechanical properties can be considered as an effective implantation for bone repair.

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Design of Sustainable Self‐Healing Phase Change Materials by Dynamic Semi‐Interpenetrating Network Structure

Wei,

Liao,

Liu

et al. 2023

Adv Funct Materials

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The design of sustainable self‐healing phase change materials (SHPCMs) remains challenging depending on sustainable fatty alcohols without compromising high enthalpy efficiency. Herein, the semi‐interpenetrating network (semi‐IPN)‐based SHPCMs are developed by introducing dynamic disulfide crosslinking polyurethane networks and sustainable fatty alcohols as phase change components in a semi‐IPN structure, enabling the combination of ultrahigh enthalpy efficiency of ≈100% and excellent self‐healing ability with 99% of mechanical stain healing efficiency. The latent heat (61.6–144.3 J g−1) and phase change temperature (29.2–64.2 °C) can be readily adjusted by the type and content of fatty alcohols in SHPCMs. The SHPCMs present high thermal reliability, thermal and shape stability, and solid‐like rheological properties benefiting from the advantage of the semi‐IPN structure. The SHPCMs are endowed with tunable mechanical stress (1.23–6.16 MPa) and strain (5.77–379.48%). More importantly, the SHPCMs can be nearly completely self‐healed after thermal stimulus, complying with the Arrhenius model, with a low activation energy of 33.831 kJ mol−1. This innovative strategy opens new avenues for preparing efficient and durable thermal energy storage materials with high enthalpy efficiency, self‐healing ability, and sustainable phase change components, broadening their potential applications.

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Bio-inspired liquid crystal gel with adjustable viscoelasticity to modulate cell behaviors and fate

Cited by 13 publications

References 52 publications

Dual-Cross-linked Liquid Crystal Hydrogels with Controllable Viscoelasticity for Regulating Cell Behaviors

Dual-Cross-linked Liquid Crystal Hydrogels with Controllable Viscoelasticity for Regulating Cell Behaviors

Bone ECM-like 3D Printing Scaffold with Liquid Crystalline and Viscoelastic Microenvironment for Bone Regeneration

Design of Sustainable Self‐Healing Phase Change Materials by Dynamic Semi‐Interpenetrating Network Structure

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